DiVosta's purchase is part of a continuing trend among Southwest Florida's homebuilders to add to their land holdings in a continuously improving new-home market. Often, these builders are getting deep discounts on their acquisitions from prices paid during the housing boom.

Ashton Woods Homes, a North Carolina company that also has been aggressively buying properties, paid $1.5 million for 25 lots that it just acquired in Bradenton, or roughly $60,000 per lot. The previous owner had paid $4.05 million, or $162,000 per lot, during the boom, records show.

The deal for the 7.4 acres in Sarasota County was not the first time Palm Beach Gardens-based DiVosta had bought land from Fairmont Sarasota, or for an enormous discount.

In April, DiVosta bought 38.4 acres just west of Interstate 75 near the Central Sarasota Parkway interchange for $1.6 million. Fairmont Sarasota had paid $9.1 million for the land in December 2005, records show.

<p><em>SARASOTA COUNTY</em> - DiVosta Homes, an affiliate of the giant Pulte Homes Corp., bought 7.4 acres next to its Isles on Palmer Ranch development for $1.4 million, or nearly $200,000 per acre.</p><p>The seller was Fairmont Sarasota LLC, a Macomb, Mich., company managed by Michael A. Chirco, records show.</p><p>DiVosta's purchase is part of a continuing trend among Southwest Florida's homebuilders to add to their land holdings in a continuously improving new-home market. Often, these builders are getting deep discounts on their acquisitions from prices paid during the housing boom.</p><p>Ashton Woods Homes, a North Carolina company that also has been aggressively buying properties, paid $1.5 million for 25 lots that it just acquired in Bradenton, or roughly $60,000 per lot. The previous owner had paid $4.05 million, or $162,000 per lot, during the boom, records show.</p><p>The deal for the 7.4 acres in Sarasota County was not the first time Palm Beach Gardens-based DiVosta had bought land from Fairmont Sarasota, or for an enormous discount.</p><p>In April, DiVosta bought 38.4 acres just west of Interstate 75 near the Central Sarasota Parkway interchange for $1.6 million. Fairmont Sarasota had paid $9.1 million for the land in December 2005, records show.</p>